Curtain stretcher



May 13, 1941. J. s. WALKER E-r AL.

CURTAIN STRETCHER Original Filed March 29, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR KKR TORNEY dof/Af o WALKER "70o H/Z Wn .v B w Q n .l o w L m www Mm., wm, n oo oo oo ooo W10. oo oo oo oo oo oa oo oo oo oo oo op oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo onluo oo oo oo oo/oomoo oo oo nml wh?, mm.\w\ QN wm mm Wm-KM \Qm1 :M o m-\{0 .0 .mw/O mv w un om gm. w Nm.. o w nw ow, Tm S mw n, No m .N GI m o o Q\ \P o. o o IRM @mmf/m, KQ, Wm wm, oo oo oo orovo oo oo oo Po/ o\o oe oo oo n oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo oo OObnMU/o oo oo oo oo QmoLmwo oo oo ook. 0 v V w 0 May 13, 1941- J. s. WALKER ET Al. v 2,241,895

CURTAIN sTRETcHER Original Filed March 29, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Patented May 13, 1941 CURTAIN STRETCHER John S. Walker and Alverna lili. tilaiker,

Pittsburgh, Pa.

Original application March 29, 1937, Serial No.

4 Claims.

This invention relates to curtain stretchers and it has particular relation to a self-squaring stretcher frame adapted to be positioned in various angular positions.

This application is a division of our application led March 29, 1937; Serial Number 133,680, which matured into Patent No. 2,178,153, issued October 31, 1939.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of curtain stretchers wherein any number of curtains Within reason can be conveniently stretched either of the saine size or of diierent sizes, that is to say, with respect to the length thereof and providing such apparatus wherein the frame is disposed at varying angles at the I will of the user thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a curtain -stretcherwherein the frame is so formed that the members of the frame, side and end members, are maintained at right-angles with respect to each other.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus, which is simple in construction, preferably formed from metal so as to avoid any sagging or bending thereof when in use. Other objects may be inferred from the nature of the invention.

In providing a curtain stretcher in accordance with our invention, the curtain stretcher frame is formed of a pair of side members and a pair of end members secured together with selfsquaring corner plates. An upright or vertical support is positioned adjacent each of the end members and these supports are provided with means for pivotally supporting the frame. In addition means are provided for locking the frame in various angular positions. Moreover an apparatus formed in accordance with our invention provides a structure adapted to support two different sizes of curtains, with respect to the length thereof. For a better understanding of the invention, reference may now be made to the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a plan View of a curtain stretcher constructed in accordance with the invention, with the frame disposed in substantially a horizontal plane.

Figure 2 is a side view (elevation) of the invention, showing by full lines one angular adjustment of the frame and by dotted lines several other adjustments thereof.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the invention.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan View of one of Divided and this application October 3, 1939, Serial No. 297,690

the rails of the .trame with a portion thereof in section for the sake of clearness.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the invention taken through one of the side rails of the frame.

Figure 6 is a sectional View of the invention taken through one of the end rails of the frame.

1n practicing our invention a curtain stretcher is formed with a pair of vertical supports'or up rights it, each having a hollow base I Ila, preferably of cone shape forming a container with a removable `.plug so that the base may be lled with sand or other material to give Weight theretc. However, the base may also be formed flat from solid metal of a Weight suflicient for the purpose. Each upright or support is threaded in a collar or the like on the base for connection therewith. Mounted on the uprights or supports I@ is a stretcher frame II, hereinafter fully described.

The frame tI is provided with side members or rails I2 and end members or rails I3, each formed from sheet metal bent into a three-sided sheathing. The open portion ifi of each member I2 has secured therein guide elements I6 and I?, respectively, these being reversely angled to each other and the piece Ii creating a channel or pocket i8. Slidably fitted in the guides I6 and I'l for projection at a downward angle from the closed end of the rail I2 toward the open side ifi are stems I, of curtain hooks 28, these being spaced uniformly throughout the length of the rail I2. Disposed about each stem i9 is a coiled tensioning spring 22 which operates to retract the stem I9 so that normally the pin or hook 20 is coniined in the pocket t8, for lconcealment thereof. The spring 22 permits the pulling of the pins outwardly from the pocket Iii when it is desired to engage a curtain or curtains 23 for the stretching of the same. Y

The open portion 25 of each member I3 has secured therein guide portions 26 and 21, respectively, the latter portion providing a pocketing space 2S at the open side 25 of the member I3. Slidably tted with the guides 26 and 21 are stems 2s of curtain pins or hooks 30, each stem being inwardly inclined or reversely set to the pins I3. Disposed about each of the stems 29 is a coiled tensioning spring 32 which acts upon the stem to normally retract the pin 30 into the space or pocket 28 to thus conceal the same when not engaged with the curtain or curtains 23. These pins are readily pulled outwardly for easy engagement with the curtains when the same are to be stretched on the frame I I.

The side rails I 2 are superimposed upon the *memberv I3.

end rails I3 and positioned between the rail members at their meeting points are self-squaring triangular shaped corner plates 35, each plate having an upstanding flange 36, which engages the outer surface of the side members and a depending flange 31, which engages the outer surface of the end members. It will be noted that the right angular disposition of the flange 36 and 31 square the rails I2 and I3 with relation to each other. The rail members I2 and I3, in their sheathings, are provided with vertically aligned openings or holes 3B which are in longitudinal rows, spaced from each other and selectively accommodate bolt fasteners 39 for adjustably clamping the rails I2 and I3 together with the plates 35 interposed therebetween at the crossing points of the rail members. Each bolt 39 carries a cleat 4I, which functions to grip the under side of the end rail I3, and the bolt also is provided with a nut 42 having an upstanding 'wing grip 43 which provides easy adjustment of the frame. Thus it will be seen that the side and end members can be readily adjusted with relation to each other to increase or decrease the size of the frame for stretching of a curtain or curtains.

The corner plates 35 have tted therewith curtain pins or hooks 44, which are adapted for corvner attachment with the curtains 23 on the inihold the collars fixed against rotation on the L supports.V Each of the collars 46 is provided with apivot arm 49, for a pivot 50, swingably connecting thereto a bracket 52 riveted or otherwise secured to each end member I3, intermediate the ends thereof. In this manner the frame I I is vertically swingable between the posts or su-pports I for angular adjustment of such frame.

Each collar 4B is specially constructed to slip over the support so that the lug 48 will engage in the notch 41, in the collar, when the same is lowered upon the support. The lugs 48, on the supports, are arranged so that the brackets 52 will hold Ithe stretcher frame approximately at Waist line of a person so that the user of the stretcher is not required to bend over for placing of a Vcurtain or -curtains on the stretcher frame I I.

Slidably mounted on each support or upright I0 is a collar 53, the collar being provided with a latch or keeper 54 adapted to engage one of the side members I 2, with a second latch 56 formed at substantially right angles to the first mentioned latch, the latch 56 engaging an end As shown in Fig. 3, the latch is fitted about the support Ill to engage both sides and end members for locking the frame in substantially vertical position.

Adjustably engaged with each end member I3, inan'y of the holes 38, adjacent to the brackets 52 is a pivot bolt 51 having swingingly pivoted thereto an arm 58. Each arm 58 is pivoted at 53 to a ycoupling 6I secured to each post or support I0. Thusby the use of the pivoted arms 58 the frame II can be maintained in a horizontal plane or at any angle thereto at the will gaging the side members I2 is a supplemental or auxiliary stretcher bar 63, which as shown is in the form of a tube but it is to be understood that this bar, in actual practice will be in structure the same as the members I3. The stretcher bar 63 is engaged by clamp hooks 64, these being Vselectively engageable in the holes 33, in the side members I2, so that the auxiliary bar can be secured to the frame between the end members I3. Within the tube 63 and carried centrally therein by .end caps 65 is a rod 61, having loosely connected thereto curtain hooks 68, these moving in slots 63 in the tube 63 and being adapted for .attachment to a curtain or curtains at one end thereof. This auxiliary bar 63 is usable with the apparatus for stretching curtains of less length than that carried directly by the frame under the adjusted set of the side and end members I2 and I3, respectively.

From theforegoing description it is apparent that we have provided a curtain stretcher adapted to stretch curtains of two sizes, with respectl to the length thereof, at one time without changing the stretcher frame. In addition we have provided a structure which is positively self-'squaring, together with a structure adapted to be positioned in various positions and which can be locked in these positions at will of 4the operator.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herein shown and described is merely illustrative o-f the preferred embodiments and that such changes as fall within the purview of one skilled in lthe art may be made Without departing from the spirit of Ithe invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim: v

1. A curtain stretching apparatus comprising a pair of vertical supports, each of the supports having a lug extending outwardly therefrom adjacent the top thereof, a collar mounted on each of the supports, the collar engaging the lug on the 4support for securing the collar against rotation, a curtain stretcher frame pivotally mounted to the collars and means having an arm mounted on the supports and engaging the stretcher for locking the stretcher frame in position.

2. A curtain stretching apparatus comprising a pair of vertical supports, each of the supports having .a lug extending outwardly therefrom adjacent th-e top thereof, a collar slidably mounted on each support, the collars engaging the lugs for securing the collars against rotation, an arm extending horizontally from each coll-ar, a curtain stretcher frame pivotally mounted to the arms and means slidably mounted on the supports and engaging the frame for locking the frame in substantially vertical position.

3. A curtain stretching apparatus comprising a pair of Weighted supports, each of the supports lhaving a lug extending outwardly therefrom ad- 4. A curtain stretching apparatus comprising a pair of supports, each of the supports having a lug extending outwardly therefrom adjacent the top thereof, a notched collar slidably mounted on each support, the notches engaging the lugs for securing the collars against rotation, an arm extending horizontally from each collar, a curtain stretcher frame pivotally mounted to the arms, between the supports, flanged element slidably mounted on the supports for engaging the frame to lock frame in substantially vertical position and means including an `arm pivotally mounted on the supports for locking the frame in angular position.

JOHN S. WALKER.

ALVERNA M. WALKER. 

